Department of Archaeology | BA Historical Archaeology (with Placement Year)
48 monthsProgramme duration
SepStarting Month
Programme overview
Main Subject
Archaeology
Degree
BA
Study Level
Undergraduate
Study Mode
On Campus
BA Historical Archaeology enables you to develop your passion for studying history in combination with archaeological training in historic-period material and visual culture, museum collections, buildings, landscapes and world heritage. With a particular focus on the archaeology of the last 600 years, this course offers a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and skills, providing an opportunity across all three years to study a combination of modules in the Departments of Archaeology and History, and to complement this with modules from other subject areas.
Classroom-led teaching and small-group seminar work are combined with practical, lab- and collections-based training, field visits and participation in the annual field school. You can choose from a range of specialist modules on the archaeology of historic period societies in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, East and South East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, as well as thematic modules covering aspects of the early modern and modern world, such as colonialization, transatlantic connections, slavery, trade and industrialisation.
Students studying this course can also follow a route accredited by CIfA, the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. Choosing an accredited undergraduate degree is widely recognised as the first step on a career pathway leading to a professional status. To obtain a CIfA-accredited degree, you can study modules that equip you with the requisite theoretical and practical knowledge, forming a solid foundation to pursue a career in the UK commercial archaeology sector.
Durham Education 2027
The University is committed to continuous improvement and is currently undertaking a review to enhance our courses. As we make updates, some details of courses advertised for 2027 entry may change. These enhancements are being developed in consultation with students and in response to student feedback.
We will not be making changes to degree subjects, academic standards or the broad concepts that will be taught, but to how courses are organised. In some cases this may mean that the balance of compulsory and optional modules may change.Any updates will be communicated transparently and by the end of summer 2026, ensuring applicants know exactly what to expect from their chosen degree.
Placement year available
Classroom-led teaching and small-group seminar work are combined with practical, lab- and collections-based training, field visits and participation in the annual field school. You can choose from a range of specialist modules on the archaeology of historic period societies in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, East and South East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, as well as thematic modules covering aspects of the early modern and modern world, such as colonialization, transatlantic connections, slavery, trade and industrialisation.
Students studying this course can also follow a route accredited by CIfA, the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. Choosing an accredited undergraduate degree is widely recognised as the first step on a career pathway leading to a professional status. To obtain a CIfA-accredited degree, you can study modules that equip you with the requisite theoretical and practical knowledge, forming a solid foundation to pursue a career in the UK commercial archaeology sector.
Durham Education 2027
The University is committed to continuous improvement and is currently undertaking a review to enhance our courses. As we make updates, some details of courses advertised for 2027 entry may change. These enhancements are being developed in consultation with students and in response to student feedback.
We will not be making changes to degree subjects, academic standards or the broad concepts that will be taught, but to how courses are organised. In some cases this may mean that the balance of compulsory and optional modules may change.Any updates will be communicated transparently and by the end of summer 2026, ensuring applicants know exactly what to expect from their chosen degree.
Placement year available
Programme overview
Main Subject
Archaeology
Degree
BA
Study Level
Undergraduate
Study Mode
On Campus
BA Historical Archaeology enables you to develop your passion for studying history in combination with archaeological training in historic-period material and visual culture, museum collections, buildings, landscapes and world heritage. With a particular focus on the archaeology of the last 600 years, this course offers a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and skills, providing an opportunity across all three years to study a combination of modules in the Departments of Archaeology and History, and to complement this with modules from other subject areas.
Classroom-led teaching and small-group seminar work are combined with practical, lab- and collections-based training, field visits and participation in the annual field school. You can choose from a range of specialist modules on the archaeology of historic period societies in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, East and South East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, as well as thematic modules covering aspects of the early modern and modern world, such as colonialization, transatlantic connections, slavery, trade and industrialisation.
Students studying this course can also follow a route accredited by CIfA, the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. Choosing an accredited undergraduate degree is widely recognised as the first step on a career pathway leading to a professional status. To obtain a CIfA-accredited degree, you can study modules that equip you with the requisite theoretical and practical knowledge, forming a solid foundation to pursue a career in the UK commercial archaeology sector.
Durham Education 2027
The University is committed to continuous improvement and is currently undertaking a review to enhance our courses. As we make updates, some details of courses advertised for 2027 entry may change. These enhancements are being developed in consultation with students and in response to student feedback.
We will not be making changes to degree subjects, academic standards or the broad concepts that will be taught, but to how courses are organised. In some cases this may mean that the balance of compulsory and optional modules may change.Any updates will be communicated transparently and by the end of summer 2026, ensuring applicants know exactly what to expect from their chosen degree.
Placement year available
Classroom-led teaching and small-group seminar work are combined with practical, lab- and collections-based training, field visits and participation in the annual field school. You can choose from a range of specialist modules on the archaeology of historic period societies in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, East and South East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, as well as thematic modules covering aspects of the early modern and modern world, such as colonialization, transatlantic connections, slavery, trade and industrialisation.
Students studying this course can also follow a route accredited by CIfA, the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. Choosing an accredited undergraduate degree is widely recognised as the first step on a career pathway leading to a professional status. To obtain a CIfA-accredited degree, you can study modules that equip you with the requisite theoretical and practical knowledge, forming a solid foundation to pursue a career in the UK commercial archaeology sector.
Durham Education 2027
The University is committed to continuous improvement and is currently undertaking a review to enhance our courses. As we make updates, some details of courses advertised for 2027 entry may change. These enhancements are being developed in consultation with students and in response to student feedback.
We will not be making changes to degree subjects, academic standards or the broad concepts that will be taught, but to how courses are organised. In some cases this may mean that the balance of compulsory and optional modules may change.Any updates will be communicated transparently and by the end of summer 2026, ensuring applicants know exactly what to expect from their chosen degree.
Placement year available
Admission Requirements
4.5+
120+
6.5+
62+
35+
176+
4 Years
Sep
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